Regulator for electric generators.



W. A. TURBAYNE. REGULATOR FOR ELECTRIC GENERATORS.

APPLICATION FILED APR-20.1914.

I 1,251,707. Patented Jan. 1, 1918 UNITED s'rnrns r TNT neuron.

WILLIAM A. TURBAYNE, OE NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE.ASSIGNMENTS, TO U. S. LIGHT & HEAT CORPORATION, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW

YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

REGULATOR FOR ELECTRIC GENERATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1,1918.

Application filed April 20, 1914. Serial No. 833,285.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM A. TUR- BAYXE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara andstate ofNew .York, have invented new and useful Impr vements in Regulators forElectric Generators, of which the following-is a full, clear, concise,

and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawing,forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to regulators for electric generators.

The invention is especially applicable to variable speed battery.charging generators such as are employed in rail-way car light-- ing andautomobile starting and lighting systems, although the invention is notlimited to such use and may be employed- -under other conditions and inother relations. I

Regulating systems have been proposed in which a single resistance isprovided for controlling the field circuit of the generator 'of themachine and provide an improved and two electromagnetic windingsarearranged to control the resistance, oneof these windings .beingcurrent-controlled, that is, the current through it being proportionalto the generator current, andthe other winding being voltage-controlled,that is, the current through it'being in proportion to the voltageacross the generator terminals.

In such systems, if the controlling windings are rendered very sensitiveso that they respond to small values in current therethrough, they havethe disadvantage of be 'nning to increase the field resistance bedrefull value of currentor voltage 1s attained. This causes interferencewith the which will hold the generator neld resistance at a minimumuntil. the enerator output it is desired to hold constant.

reaches the full predetermlned value which Another object of theinvention is to provide an improved regulator which will allow a maximumcharging current at low speeds of the generator.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved regulatorwhich is inactive until regulationof either current or voltage of thegenerator is needed.

One embodiment of the improved regulator is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagram of a systemincluding the improved-regulator. n

' F ig. 2 is a fragmentary detail illustrating oneof the controlling.electromagnets.

-The regulating magnets are constructed to be unresponsive to efiect'regulation until a prompting or sensitizing means is brought into actionto alfect them. This promptingor sensitizing means is brought intoaction under predetermined conditions of current flowing through themagnet windings corresponding to a definite value of current oradefinite value .of voltage, as may be preferred. This sensitizing meansis .withdrawn from action I when the current through the magnetwindings, which may be proportional to the current or voltage asdesired, falls below a certain value. In this manner, the magnets arerendered unresponsive to efi'ect regulation until certain definitecurrent or voltage values are attained. Beyond such definite values theyare highly-responsive to minute variations in current or voltage.

The main elements of the system shown in Fig. 1 comprise a variablespeed generator having an armature land a shunt winding 2, a regulator3, automatic switch 4, storage battery 5 and a lamp load 6.. Theseelements are interconnected. by the mains 7 and 8 The regulator 3comprises a variable resistance 10 which may be a carbon pile or anypreferred form of variable resistance in' series with the shunt winding2 of the generatorz The pressure on the carbon pile rheostat 10 may bevaried by either-or both of the two electromagnetsl1 and 12 operatingthrough hell crank levers 23 and 18 respectively. No stationaryabutments for the ends of the carbon pile resistance 10 are furnished,the ends of the bell crank levers 1S and 23 serving this purpose. Thetwo electromagnets 11 and 12 are similar in conspring 19 until thereluctance 'is reduced.v

This is accomplished by means of the arenature -13 which is mounted on astatically balanced lever 32 and held away from he cores 12 by means ofa spring 33, the te rsion of which may be adjusted. The ir gap betweenthe coresand the armature i3 may be adjusted by a screw34,or otheradjusting means. Upon the attainment of a definite current value in thewinding 14:, the armature 13 is attracted, thereby decreasing thereluctance /of the magneticv circuit and enabling the magnet to'overcome the ten sion ofthe spring 19. and contr the pies ement of sureon the rheostat 10. The In the armature and bell crank lever. issteadied by a dash-pot 21 attached to' the end of the bell crank lever.

In the position of'rest or inefiective low speeds of the generatorarmature, the various parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1.

A maximum pressure is exerted. o the rheo stat 10, whereby itsresistance 1s a inimum. The pressure upon this rheostat may be ad justedby adjusting the tension of springs 19 and 25 and by adjusting thedistance through which the bell crank levers 18 and 23 may operate bymeans of the abutments 22 and 28, shown in. this instance as thumbscrews. As the generator begins to operate, its field will rapidlybuildup, due to the fact that the compressible rheostat- 10 is held.

fully compressed by the action of the springs v 19 and 25, as bothicontrolling magnets are incapable of exerting any regulating efiect aslong as their armatures13 or 16' are unattracted. l'fnder theseconditions, the generator will, at a very low speed, attain a voltagewhich is substantially equal to the battery voltage. When this voltageis reached,

the automatic switch, which may be of any of the well known types, willclose, and bat-- tery charging current will flow from the armature 1,through the series winding-14s.,

I lead 7, battery 5, and back to the generator through the lead 8. Assoon as the generator current reaches the value torwhich the currentregulator is set, the coil M'will' be sufiiciently energized toattractthe armature 13. -Attraction of the armature 13 so-reduces' the'magneticreluctance of the controlling magnet 12, that its armature 17 is broughtwithin the mag'netic field of the magnet. Upon further increase ingenerator speed, the magnet 12 will attract the armature 17 against theaction of the sprin' -19 and through the bell crank lever 18, wildecrease pressure on the compressible, rheostat' 10, thereby insertingresistance in'the field cireuit to hold the generator current at thepredetermined maXimum-value which -it'is de" sired to be held constant.I 1 v If the regulation of the generator were when the voltage acrossthe mains rises to a predetermined point which is the maximum desired tobe impressed on the battery,"

the armature 16 will beattracted to the cores 11. The reluctance in, themagneticcircuit ofathis magnet is thereby reduceduand the -armature 24'is subject to the control of the magnet. Any tendency toward increase ofvoltage across the, mains 'Z and-8' operates to relax further thepressure on the rheostat 10 and to cut down the excitation of thegenerator, to thereby hold the voltage constant. The chargingcurrentdrops off rapidlyunder these conditions and a value is soonreached at which" the attraction of the coil 14 is insuflicient toretain the armature 13 against the cores 12. When this value is reached,the spring 33 withdraws the armature13, thereby increasing thereluctance of the magnetic circuit of the magnet andrendering thearmature 17 unresponsive to con-- trol by the magnet. The control of therheoi stat thus passes over completely tbthe woltage controlled magnet11, the -.a1mature of which may be so adjusted .as toiproduce a stopchargeandhold the vbltage across the mains 7 and 8 at'such a value as tofloat the battery across the line while suppl ing any current which may6,"or pther translating devices;

The adjustment of the armature may be jsuch that asmall current willcontinue to flow through the battery 5, giving what is known.

as a taper charge effect, If the generator 'is stopped, or the/speed'of'the armaturel decreases to, such a point that the voltage I acrossthe mains is insuflicient to retain the be. drawn by t 'e lamps armaturelfia ainst the cores 11, the armature 16 will drop back into; theposition shown in- Fig... 1.' When the armature again begins torotate,the cycle of operations will lie-repeated. The" structure aboveiao provides a current control which does not lnterfere with building upof the voltage in the machine, as it is operated only after theautomatic switch is closed, and a voltagecontrolled regulating meanswhich becomes operative only when the battery reaches a predeterminedvoltage and which thereafter assumes sole control, rendering thecurrentcontrolled means inoperative.

The structure shown in Fig. 2 illustrates the magnet cores 12 withtapered ends conforming to the armature 17, which is wedgedshaped. Thisallows a considerable move ment of the armature 17 without striking thepole pieces.

The lamps 6, shown in Fig. 1, may be bridged across the battery circuitby closing the switch 40, and the voltage across the lamps may becontrolled by a lamp rheostat 41.

This invention is applicable not only to a storage battery system, butto a system where any kind of a counter-electromotive force device isuseful in the place of said battery, as well as in other relations.

Vhile the invention has been described and illustrated with reference toa particular embodiment, the invention may be practised by other meansand may be employed in other relations and under other conditions, andit is not desired to limit the invention to the details of theembodiment described. except as such limitations may be imposed by theappended claims.

IVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is 1. In a regulator for a shunt-wound generator. avariable resistance, a series-wound controlling magnet therefor, ashunt-wound controlling magnet therefor, armatures for said magnets,each armature controlling said variable resistance but normallyunresponsive to variations of current flow through its associatedelectromagnet, and means for rendering each armature responsive tocurrent variations through its associatedelectromagnet.

2. A regulator for a shunt-wound generator comprising a variableresistance. two regulating magnets for controlling said resistance, saidmagnets being' normally incapable of controlling said resistance, andmeans for each magnet to render the same capable of controlling theresistance.

3. A regulator for a generator comprising a resistance in series withthe exciting wind ing of said generator. a current-controlled regulatingmagnet and voltage-controlled regulating magnet, each of said magnetshaving means for controlling the variable resistance but normallyunaffected by variations of current through said magnet windings, andmeans to render said means sensitive to control by said magnets.

4. A regulator for a shunt-wound gen erator comprising a resistancein-series with said shunt winding, a current-controlled regulatingmagnet and a voltage-controlled regulating magnet, armatures for each ofsaid magnets operable to regulate said resistance, said magnets beingnormally incapable of operating said armatures, and means for each ofsaid controlling magnets to render the same capable of operating-itsassociated armature.

5. In a system of the class described having a variable speedshunt-wound generator, a regulator, an automatic switch and a storagebattery, said regulator including a variable resistance in series withthe shunt winding of said generator, a current-controlled regulatingmagnet therefor and a voltage-controlled regulating magnet therefor,said magnets being incapable of controlling said variable resistance,means controlled by a current of predetermined value to cause saidcurrent-controlling magnet tobecome capable of controlling saidresistance, and means thereafter operating to render thevoltage-controlled regulating magnet capable of controlling saidvariable resistance and for rendering said current-controlled regulatingmagnet inoperative to control said resistance.

6. A regulator for a generator including a variable resistancecontrolling the excitation of said generator, current'controlled meansfor regulating said resistance, voltage-controlled means .for regulatingsaid generator, both of said controlling means being normallyinoperative, means for rendering said current-controlled means operativeto control the resistance, and means thereafter operating to render thevoltagecontrolled means operative to control said resistance and torender said current-con: trolled means inoperative.

7. In a system of the class described having a variable speed generator,a regulator for said generator, said regulator including a singlevariable resistance, a controlling magnet having a winding in serieswith said generator, a. controlling magnet having a winding in shunt tosaid generator, means operated by a current of predetermined value torender said series-wound controlling magnet operative to control theresistance, and means operated at a definite voltage by said shunt-wourdmagnet to render said shunt-wound inagnet operative to control theresistance andto render said serieswound magnet inoperative.

8. A regulator for a generator including a variable resistance, aplurality of controlling electromagnets, each of said magnets having anarmature for controlling said resistance, said 'armatures beingunresponsive to variations in current flow through its electromagnet,and means to render each of said armatures responsive to variations incurrent flow in its corresponding electrovariations in current flowthrough the winding of said magnet, and means actuated upon theattainment of a predetermined cur rent value in said coil to reduce thereluctance of said magnetic circuit to render the armature responsive tovariations in current flow.

10. Generator regulating means including a variable resistance,current-responsive means associated therewith normally inoperative tovary said resistance, means adapted to render said current-responsivemeans operative. under predetermined conditions to vary said resistance,voltage-responsive means associated with said resistance and normallyinoperative to vary said resistance,

11. Regulating means for a variablespeed generator including aregulating medium and operating means therefor, said operating meanshaving a current responsive coil and a voltage responsive coil, saidoperating means having spring means opposing the effects of said coils,and meansfor rendering each of sand coils inefit'ective to control saidregulating medium until the attainment of a predetermined current valuein the respec-' tive coils.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto sub scribed my name in the presenceof two,

Witnesses. WILLIAM A. TURBAYNE. Witnesses:

J. E. CANNON, R. J. Ems.

